Natasha Explains
The elevator stopped and they all stepped out to the communal floor. Steve felt sadness. There were so many good memories connected to this place. Natasha was sitting on one of the couches with Rhodey and Vision next to her. Clint had perched himself on the armrest of an armchair and had a grin on his face. He patted the seat of the chair and Wanda went over to sit there. Natasha motioned them forward so they sat down. Sam, Steve and Bucky took another of the couches while T’Challa took an armchair. Before anyone could say anything the door to one of the elevators opened and out stepped…
"Bruce!"
Both Steve and Clint flew up seeing the doctor. But before they could do anything a furious redhead emerged from behind Bruce and marched straight to Steve. She didn’t even pause for a second before she slapped him. Her next slap was directed towards Clint who actually got scratch marks on his cheek from her nails. She turned around to face Bucky and Sam but instead of doing anything physical to them she simply said:
"We’re going to have a long talk about this later."
Then her eyes softened a bit and she added:
"It’s nice to finally meet you Sergeant. And it’s good to see you again Wanda."
Then she slumped into one of the couches. The newcomers were speechless. Steve and Clint, who both knew Pepper from before, were shocked because they had never seen her get physical like that with anyone. Sam, Bucky and T’Challa were glad that she had decided that they were not worth her time. Wanda just smiled warmly at the woman. Pepper had always been like a godmother to her. Ever since she joined the Avengers. Bruce gave Steve a long look before he said calmly:
"Be happy that I am so exhausted or the Other Guy would have gladly beat you up for, as he phrases it, 'hurting tin man'."
Then he sank down on the couch next to Pepper who immediately took his hand and squeezed it a bit. He smiled at her and many of the heroes got a feeling that there might be something more than friendship between the two. Steve returned to his seat while Clint jumped up on Wanda’s armrest and leaned back a bit. He understood Pepper. He had deserved that for what he did. Natasha took a deep breath and started to talk.
"Okey. Now that everyone is here I’ll tell you why I asked Steve and the others to come here. After the fight that Steve, Bucky and Tony had in Siberia everything changed. Me and Vision went there to get Tony back. He was passed out. We took him back here and as soon as he woke up he threw himself into work. He created those braces for Rhodey so that he could walk and made countless upgrades to his armor. But he was literally fading. One day, around one month ago, I found him with a knife in his hand and blood all over his arms. I helped him clean up and put him to bed. The next day Rhodey found him in the exactly same situation. A few days later it was Pepper. And all the time he kept apologizing for not managing to do it right."
Everyone paled. Wanda looked almost like she was going to throw up. Tony Stark was not supposed to be like that. He was supposed to be an asshole. Heartless. She shivered and felt Clint putting an arm around her. She gave him a small smile. Natasha continued not bothering to give them a pause.
"Then two weeks ago he took some pills and then got drunk. That was the day Bruce arrived. He had heard about the whole 'Civil War'. He got here in the last second. Tony survived. But he ended up in a coma. A coma that he still is in as we speak."
Wanda felt a tear slide down her cheek. They had driven Tony Stark to this. She knew she should feel happy. After all Tony Stark was a monster. But all she could think of was Tony Stark lying lifeless on the floor. Natasha threw an apologetic look towards the girl and Wanda nodded. She understood. Natasha had to keep talking. Because even if Wanda felt sorry for Stark it didn’t mean the words were hitting the others. She looked over to Vision who gave her a small smile. The first smile she got from him since the day in the kitchen when he had attempted to cook for her. And Natasha pressed on.
"I found a letter next to him that day. In it he wrote only four sentences. 'Don’t blame Winter. He is innocent. He didn’t do it. I fucked up.' He signed it James Winter."
Suddenly Bucky shot out of his seat and took a few steps towards Natasha. Vision stood up from his place and the stone on his forehead started to glow. But Bucky didn’t seem to notice that. He was staring at Natasha with desperation in his eyes.
"What did you just say?"
"James Winter."
And he just collapsed. Tears were flowing freely from his eyes and his whole body was shaking. Steve got up quickly but as soon as he touched him Bucky turned around and grabbed the Captain’s throat with his metal arm. In one quick motion he threw him into the closest wall. Then he turned his wild eyes towards Natasha.
"Why didn’t anyone tell me? I thought they had killed him. Why didn’t HE tell me?"
Natasha calmly looked back at him and answered:
"Because Steve wouldn’t let him near you."
Meanwhile Sam, Wanda and Clint had gotten up from their seats and moved to stand together. Just in case. Then suddenly Bruce spoke up.
"Why don’t you all just sit down before the Other Guy decides that you all are a threat to Tony and his friends?"
And when they looked over to him they could all see that his brown eyes were now tinted with green. Wanda and Clint were the first ones to take up their old places. Sam helped Steve up and they sat on the couch but Bucky was still standing. He wasn’t crying anymore and seemed more angry than upset. He glanced over towards the couch where Bruce and Pepper were sitting and sat down next to her when the woman gave him a small nod. Steve looked hurt and surprised. Pepper on the other side was calm. This was what Natasha had warned them for. That Bucky might get violent. Not that she really understood why. But she trusted Natasha.
"A few days ago we obtained something that reeked magic. FRIDAY analyzed it and it turns out that it’s memories. Tony’s memories. From a third person perspective. And after watching them Vision told me that they would help you understand Tony better. Understand why he is like he is. What he has lost and been through."
Steve made a disbelieving sound.
"What he’s been through? What he lost? He is Stark. He is arrogant, pain in the ass, selfish, narcissistic and…"
"And if you say one more word I will put a bullet through your crotch and see what Carter thinks about that. Old friend or not, you are NOT allowed to talk like that about him."
Everyone looked at Bucky. For a second it was quiet and then Natasha finally spoke up.
"Wait. You mean that you and Sharon… She is Peggy’s niece Rogers!"
Steve shrugged.
"I know. I felt lonely. It was just a kiss. Nothing more."
Before anyone could respond Rhodey figured out that they didn’t need another argument so he shifted a bit and said:
"Going back to what Nat said. We are going to play those memories now. And you are not allowed to leave. Complete lockdown FRIDAY. Keep an eye on Tony."
"Boss is completely fine right now. At least as fine as a person in COMA gets."
Everyone could sense the sarcasm in the AI’s voice but when she spoke again it was a bit softer.
"Does that mean I can call you Winter? Boss has been saying that. It’s hard to remember to say Sargent."
Bucky nodded slowly. He still seemed completely shocked. Then the lights dimmed and the windows became black. That was another one of Tony’s inventions from the time they still had movie nights. A big screen appeared in front of them all and finally did Vision sit down. Wanda took a deep breath. She had a feeling this would not be nice.